![\"\"](\"http:\/\/fffaif.files.wordpress.com\/2009\/12\/christmas-card-2_hosken_web.jpg\" "\\"Christmas")
<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto: Christmas silk postcard [Hosken Collection]<\/p>\n
The following poem was written by Private Leslie George Rub<\/a> Christmas Day On The Somme<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2019Twas Christmas Day on the Somme Up spoke the Captain \u2018gallant man\u2019, \u201cThe General has expressed a wish I hope you\u2019ll keep yourselves quite clean \u201cAll men will get two biscuits each, The puddings plum have not arrived \u201cYou\u2019re parcels would have been in time The Quartermaster\u2019s got your rum \u201cThe Huns have caught us in the rear Now ere you go I wish you all Photo: Christmas silk postcard [Curley Collection]<\/p>\n If you are interested in reading about the Christmas Truce that took place on the Western Front during December 1914 follow the link to the posting Christmas Truce<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n The Families and Friends of the First AIF<\/em><\/strong> applauds\u00a0the joint Australian\u2013UK decision, announced by The Hon Greg Combet AM MP and the Hon Kevan Jones MP, to conduct a full DNA testing program on the remains of Australian and British soldiers found in mass graves at Pheasant Wood (Fromelles), and for their continuing commitment to identify as many of the fallen as is possible. We also thank the Australian, UK and French governments for affording dignified individual reburials for these soldiers, buried by\u00a0German soldiers following the Battle of Fromelles\u00a0on 19\/20 July 1916, in the new Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery presently under construction at Fromelles.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As Christmas Day approaches it is time to reflect on the Christmas experiences of the AIF during the Great War. Photo: Christmas silk postcard [Hosken Collection] The following poem was written by Private Leslie George Rub (No 3892) 2nd Pioneer … Continue reading
\n(No <\/sup>3892) 2nd<\/sup> Pioneer Battalion while serving on the Western Front in 1916. Private Rub died of wounds on 22 September 1917 and is buried in The Huts Cemetery Dickebusch Belgium.<\/p>\n
\nThe men stood on parade,
\nThe snow laid six feet on the ground
\nTwas twenty in the shade.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cJust hear what I\u2019ve to say,
\nYou may not have remembered that
\nToday is Christmas Day.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThis day may be observed,
\nToday you will only work eight hours,
\nA rest that\u2019s well deserved.<\/p>\n
\nAnd smart and spruce and nice,
\nThe stream is frozen hard
\nBut a pick will break the ice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nI\u2019m sure you\u2019re tired of bread,
\nI\u2019m sorry there\u2019s no turkey
\nbut there\u2019s Bully Beef instead.<\/p>\n
\nBut they are on their way,
\nI\u2019ll guarantee they\u2019ll be in time
\nTo eat next Christmas Day.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nBut I regret to say
\nThe vessel which conveyed them was
\nTorpedoed on the way.<\/p>\n
\nBut you may get some yet,
\nEach man will be presented with
\nA Woodbine Cigarette.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nAnd painted France all red,
\nPray do not let that trouble you,
\nTomorrow you\u2019ll be dead.<\/p>\n
\nThis season of good cheer,
\nA very happy Christmas and
\nA prosperous New Year.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n